MISHAWKA, Ind. – Evan Etchison impressed in defeat for Grace's baseball team. The sophomore hurler struck out 16 batters during the Lancers' second game against Bethel on Saturday.
He set the program record for most strikeouts in a game, doing so in 5.2 shutout innings of work. Of the 17 outs that Etchison collected from the mound, 16 came via strikeout.
Grace was unable to pick up the series win against Bethel, however, dropping two games on Saturday.
The Lancers claimed the first game of the series on Friday, but the Pilots came back to win three straight and take the series.
Grace outhit Bethel in both of the games on Saturday, but the Lancers could not generate enough runs and lost two low-scoring affairs by the scores of 4-2 and 3-0.
The opening game saw Grace outhit Bethel 7-6 but fall 4-2.
The Pilots jumped on Grace with a three-run first inning and never trailed again. Bethel had four of its six total hits in the first inning, generating three runs in the process.
In the fourth inning, Grace moved within striking distance. Jeff Pawlik and Alex Rich began the inning with singles. A bunt moved both runners into scoring position, and Chris Griffin drove in the pair with a single.
But the Lancers were unable to score again and lost by two runs. Rich finished 3 for 4 with a run scored, and Griffin was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
The second game was a quick pitchers' duel. Bethel scored all of the runs in the top of the first inning.
The Pilots had two hits in the first, benefitting as well from an error to grab a 3-0 lead.
Etchison entered the game in relief with one out in the first inning and proceeded to finish the game. He quickly mowed through the Pilots over the final six innings thanks to his 16 strikeouts.
But Grace was unable to find any run support for Etchison. The Lancers outhit Bethel 7-5 but fell 3-0.
Grace had three hits in the second inning but came up empty. Cal Curiel and Patrick Danforth had two hits apiece to lead the Lancers, and Austin Carr, Sam Newkirk and Griffin also registered a hit.
The Lancers have a quick turnaround, playing host to Indiana Wesleyan on Monday at 1 p.m.
